Method for producing laser plasma tube and product

ABSTRACT

A method and resulting laser tube apparatus constructed from a plurality of components adapted to be arranged in axial alignment and self supporting with respect to each other. The elements are adapted to withstand high baking temperatures and are provided at their mating surfaces with material capable of forming a flowable seal between the components during baking and subsequently solidifying to a hermetic seal upon cooling. End adjustment mirror mountings which combine adjustable functions together with desirable electrical properties are also disclosed, together with procedures for obtaining optical alignment of the resultant tube product.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 689,039 filed May 24, 1976.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Cross reference is made to U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 548,034, filedFeb. 7, 1975, now abandoned, entitled PLASMA TUBE AND METHOD OFMANUFACTURE, in the names of Dale E. Crane et al., and assigned to thesame assignee, hereinafter referred to as the Crane et al. application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for producinghermetic, hard-sealed plasma tubes for gas laser applications, and to anovel plasma tube product the mirror mountings of which can be adjustedafter assembly and baking. More particularly, the invention relates to atechnique for producing such hard-seal plasma tubes by a baking processwhich can be carried out in a single step or small number of steps toproduce a hard-sealed plasma tube. As used herein, the term"hard-sealed" will refer to hermetic, high temperature vacuum tightseals such as glass-to-metal seals, ceramic-to-metal seals, and brazedmetal seals utilizable in the present invention.

The referenced application discloses a technique for manufacturing laserplasma tubes in which various combinations of matching metals andglasses are provided so that it is possible by a multiple step processto make up a laser plasma tube having hard seals or optionally havingepoxy seals for attaching the end mirrors in place. It is highlydesirable to construct laser plasma tubes in which all seals areglass-to-metal thereby permitting high temperature vacuum processing andalso eliminating problems caused by the permeability of epoxy type sealsto water vapor; which although quite low, limits laser plamsa tube life.However, the previously used techniques, such as are shown in thereferenced Crane et al. application, required multistep flame processingand considerable skilled labor. There is, therefore, a need for a newand improved method and apparatus for producing a hard-sealed laserplasma tube.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND OBJECTS

A general object of the present invention is to provide a method andapparatus for producing hard-sealed plasma tubes for lasers which willovercome the foregoing limitations and disadvantages by providingpreassembly of all laser tube parts in a vertically arranged end-onconfiguration (with respect to gravity) and by baking the same in asingle step or small number of steps through an appropriate heating andcooling cycle or cycles.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method andapparatus together with appropriate procedures for establishing accurateoptical cavity alignment of the resulting laser tube product.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hard-sealplasma tube for laser application which can be built economically andwith a minimum of separate operations.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide ahard-seal plasma tube which maintains a reasonably accurate alignment ofthe mirrors throughout the processing cycle.

A further object is to improve the initial accuracy of the tube assemblyby using self-centering and self-supporting components.

A further object is to provide a hard-seal plasma tube manufacturingmethod and apparatus of the above character which provides for fineoptical cavity alignment after the vacuum sealing and gas filling of thetube.

In general, the method and apparatus of the present invention call forutilization of a plurality of pre-formed parts which will make up thelaser tube product. The parts principally comprise a plasma tube glassenvelope, cathode and capillary structures, metal end closures andthermally compatible glass and optical elements such as mirrors; alljoined together by interposed glass-to-metal bonds. These parts areassembled in a jig in such a way that they are self-aligning withrespect to a single vertical axis and self-supporting when positionedend-on with the axis of the tube being directed upwardly with respect togravitational force. The assembled tube parts are held in lateralposition by the jig with the various parts being aligned correctly bytheir own constructional features.

The various parts of which the laser tube structure are assembled areselected from materials which have closely matching coefficients ofexpansion. Reference is made to the aforementioned co-pending Crane etal. application for discussion of materials which will satisfy theserequirements. For the sake of completeness of the present application,the following is given as an enumeration of glass, metal, mirror,substrate and sealing materials by way of example of those useful forcarrying out the present invention, it being understood that othercombinations of matching compounds may be substituted as dictated bycost, ease of manufacture, stability, and other chemical and physicalproperties of materials.

A preferred material for the plasma tube envelope and for the capillaryis a potash soda lead glass with a thermal expansion coefficient of90×10⁻⁷ /° C., available under the trade designation 0012 from Corning,or its equivalent, Kimbal KG12. A preferred metal for end closuresinclude nickel-chrome-iron alloy (42% nickel, 5-6% chrome, balanceiron), with a thermal expansion coefficient of 82×10⁻⁷ /° C. iscommercially available under the designation Sealmet HC4 or Carpenter42-6. The mirror substrates are preferably made from materialscompatible with high temperature baking and which have a high annealingtemperature such as BK-1, having a thermal expansion coefficient ofabout 90×10⁻⁷ /° C. Other examples of bakable mirror substrate andcoating combinations will be given. Solder glass is used to provide ahard seal which is compatible with the respective metal and glass partsincludes SG-68 with a thermal expansion coefficient of approximately90-100×10⁻⁷ /° C. and CV-101 with one of 94×10⁻⁷ /° C., both of whichhave a melting point 20°-30° C. lower than the above-mentioned potashsoda lead glass. As disclosed in the referenced Crane et al.application, many other glasses and combinations of materials are alsosuitable.

The components which support the mirrors and laser tube components areassembled in the form of a column in a pillar or other type jig andmaintained as such during baking and cool down cycles. The variouscomponents are assembled as a vertical column built upwards from thecathode end assembly positioned and supported by a support plate at thebottom of the jig. Lateral positioning of the column is supplied byradially directed adjustment means incorporated in the jig which holdthe outer glass envelope in vertical registry with the cathode assembly.The anode end assembly on top of the glass envelope is kept in place byweighted guides and constructional features of the several parts. Themirrors, at the extremities of the column, are received in acorresponding recess in the cathode end mirror plate and by jigging onthe anode assembly, and form the optical terminations for an internalcoaxial bore which extends through the column.

The jig and assembled tube components are exposed to a baking cyclewhich calls for the gradual elevation of the assembly and parts fromambient to fusion temperatures over a predetermined period of time,after which a return to ambient takes place over a more extended periodso as to avoid too rapid a cooling and development of thermally inducedstresses in the product. If desired, the product can be maintained at aholding temperature during cool down while the tube is evacuated andfilled, or the tube can be filled after cool down, sealed at theappropriate pressures and adjusted for maximum output, as will bedescribed. A particular feature of the present invention calls for oneend of the assemblies of the tube to be inelastically deformable so thatadjustment of the tube mirror alignment can be made at that end. Theother end assembly is constructed with an elastically deformablediaphragm and adjustment mechanism to permit exact, optimum alignment ofthe mirrors with respect to the bore.

The above and other objects, and features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description, referencebeing made to the accompanying drawings of which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembly jig and gas laser plasmatube constructed in accordance with the present invention in which theplasma tube assembly is shown with its components in exploded relationand removed from the assembly jig;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal view, partly in section, of the assembly jigand tube assembly of FIG. 1, shown assembled and ready for baking;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view in perspective of the anode end mirrorassembly and the plasma tube of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled anode end mirrorassembly of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view in perspective of the cathode end mirrorassembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view, partly in cross-section, of the assembledcathode end mirror assembly of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view in perspective of the anode end of theassembled plasma tube of FIG. 1, showing the clamping components forobtaining approximate adjustment of the anode end mirror;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the plasma tube of FIG. 7, showing thesame with clamping components assembled in position for adjustment; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating the arrangement used toobtain final alignment of the plasma tube of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown an assembly jig forconstructing and supporting gas laser plasma tube components accordingto the present invention and includes spaced-apart ring flanges 9, 10,the lower one of which serves as a support base and includes threeradially extending bars 11a, 11b, 11c which extend outwardly from acentral aperture of the lower ring flange at angles of about 120° withrespect to each other to form a tripod support. The bars 11a, 11b, 11care rigidly attached to the lower ring flange, the upper ring flangebeing supported in a spaced relation to the lower flange by elongatespacing bars 12a, 12b, 12c. Suitable screw mounts 13a, 13b, 13c areprovided in each of the extending bars of the tripod support which maybe adjusted to bring the jig assembly into true vertical, therebyproviding an adjustable leveling base. Various elements of the lasertube assembly are supported within the assembly jig on a spider flange14 having three arms 14 a, 14b, 14c which extend outwardly and rest uponthe inner edges of the support bars 11a, 11b, 11c, respectively. Spiderflange 14 is provided with centrally disposed recess 14d for supportinga portion of the laser tube assembly which recess terminates inwardly inan aperture 15 which is large enough to accommodate mirror 16 and alsopermits application of an independent upward force to mirror 16, as willbe described. Mirrors 16, 17 provide an optical cavity through adischarge to be developed in the tube. Three identical apertures 18a,18b, 18c of lesser diameter and spaced equidistantly around thecircumference of aperture 15 and communicate with the latter to provideroom for location of cathode mirror adjustment screws to be described. AU-shaped aperture 19 is provided at the circumference of flange 14,intermediate its support by two ends of arms 14b, 14c for permittingpassage of a fill tube 43.

A strut 20 is attached by a retaining screw 21 to the outer rim offlange 9 and depends therefrom perpendicularly in a downward direction.A pivot pin 22 at the lower part of strut 20 pivotably supports a lever23 which extends in a generally radial direction outward from the centerof the jig, where it bears toward the underside of flange 14 and, moreparticularly, against one face of a mirror 16 positioned in the aperture16. At its end remote from the center, the lever 23 supports a weight 24which is mounted thereon by a threaded screw 25.

FIG. 2 shows the assembled components of the gas laser plasma tubeconstructed in accordance with the invention and includes mirrors 16 and17, respectively, a glass envelope 26, a cathode 27 from which theelectrons for excitation of the gas are to be emitted, a capillary tube28 for definition of the gas discharge and optical path through a bore28a provided therein, an anode 29, means for sealing of the tube,mounting means for the mirrors 16 and 17, and conductive means at therespective ends of the tube for connecting the cathode 27 and the anode29 to an external power supply.

The gas envelope 26 of the tube has two open ends 30, 31, respectively,and is of generally cylindrical configuration except at end 31 where ittapers inwardly toward an opening of reduced diameter. The cathode 27 isformed of a section of aluminum tubing and is held in place inside theglass envelope 26 by two conductive cathode supports 32 and 33,confrontingly disposed at each end of the cathode. The cathode supports32 and 33 have a spider-like outer configuration and include an annularflange 34 from which radially spaced spring clip fingers 35 extendaxially and outwardly into contact with the inner wall of envelope 26.The cathode support 32 is seated inside the glass envelope adjacent tothe end 30 of the envelope and is connected electrically to a cathodeend disc, to be described, by a suitable clip or wire (not shown).Cathode support 33 is formed with an aperture 33a, being shown,surrounded by inwardly directed fingers to serve as support for thecapillary 28 after the same is introduced into the envelope through end31.

While its length is generally narrow and thin-walled, the capillary 28terminates outwardly of the glass envelope 26 in a bulb 36 which limitsits advance into the envelope and also serves to maintain the capillarycentered.

End 31 of the glass envelope 26 has a central aperture surrounded by aseat 37 slanted at an angle inwardly to form a conical depressionsurrounding the aperture and serves as a shoulder for mating closelyagainst an inwardly facing frustro-conical surface portion 36a of bulb36 at the outer end of the capillary tube 28. The outer portion of bulb36 is of generally hemispherical configuration and is received in arecess 29a formed by collar 29 of the anode assembly.

As shown particularly in FIGS. 3 and 4, the anode assembly includesanode collar 29 which is fused as by brazing to a spindle 38 which, inturn, is brazed to a hub 39 on which mirror 17 is mounted. Collar 29 andhub 39 extend generally radially outward of the assembly which spindle38 extends generally in a longitudinal or axial direction.

In the preferred embodiment, the interior wall of the center portion ofthe spindle 38 is formed to thinner dimensions than the walls of thewider parts of the spindle in consideration of the bending forces whichare to be selectively applied to the center portion during the alignmentadjustment of the mirror 17 after the tube has been sealed, as will bedescribed. Spindle 38 is separate from hub 39 and collar 29 so that itsforming properties and inelastic characteristics are not restricted tothe thermal characteristics of metals that match the mirrors or glassbody.

Collar 29 and hub 39 can be made of HC4 Sealmet metal and stamped intothe shape shown by conventional means from flat stock. Spindle 38 can bepreferably made of stainless steel tubing selected from readilyavailable stock, such as #304, #312, or #320, but could also be made ofmany other materials including iron 416 stainless steel, etc. Thespindle is formed into the shape shown, having a necked down centralsection 38a, which may be of reduced wall thickness, and may be formedby conventional rolling operations. The collar 29, hub 39, and spindle28 are joined together to form a unitary structure, as by welding orbrazing, and surfaces 39a and 29a are preglazed with glass solder tofacilitate attachment of mirror substrate 17 and fusion of the anodemirror assembly to the plasma tube and capillary end 36.

By making the anode assembly in the manner indicated, the reducedportion 38a of reduced wall thickness can be inelastically deformed tobring mirror 17 into alignment with the bore 28a and end mirror 16.During inelastic deformation, the spindle is bent about its longitudinalaxis, by means to be described, the strain field thus createdpropagating outwardly within the center section, but being confinedthereto so that stresses are not propagated to the hub 39 or collar 29where they could promote separation of the mirror substrate or capillaryfrom the anode assembly. It will be noted also that the region ofjoining the hub and collar to the spindle has a low cross-section whichfeature further confines stress to the spindle, or to deformation in theregions between the parts. By providing this assembly in three parts,the forming properties and inelastic characteristics of the deformableelement 38 can be chosen quite independently of the constraints placedon the members jointed to glass. In practice, the stainless spindle 38is found to have satisfactory long term stability against creep in thatno evidence has been found of degradation of tube performanceattributable to such.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 5, and 6, the other end 30 of the glassenvelope 26 is fused to a metal cathode end closure and mirror supportin the form of a disc 41 forming a central diaphragm surrounded bycircumferential rim 42 extending outwardly and radially therefrom at anangle with respect to the plane of the disc. The disc 41 and the rim 42thereon form a cup which fits closely over the end 30, and an adjoiningouter portion of the longitudinal extension of the glass envelope 26.Aperture 46 receives shoulder 48b of plate 48 and further acts as afenestrum for laser light. A conductor (not shown) is fused between thecathode support 32 and disc 41 to establish an electrically conductiveconnection therefor through the disc to an external power supply. Anadjustment plate 48 is attached in spaced relation to the centralportion of the diaphragm disc 41 to form an elastically adjustablemirror support as well as an hermetic termination for that end of thetube.

Thus, adjustment plate 48 is provided with a central aperture 48asurrounded by an axially extending cylindrical shoulder 48b which isfused as by brazing to the disc 41 such that apertures 46 and 48a arealigned, the plate 48 being thereby maintained in spaced parallelposition with respect to the plane of disc 41. The shape of theadjustment plate is that of a triangle inscribed in the circle formed bydisc 41. At each apex of the triangle an internally treaded bore 49admits an adjustment screw 50 to be advanced therethrough to bearagainst rim 41a of the disc 41 at its juncture of rigid support at theedge of envelope 26. On account of the thickness of the disc 41 relativeto the plate 48, the former is thereaby angularly movable as anelastically deformable diaphragm with respect to the axis of the tube.

A small diameter piece of metal tubing 43 is fused, as by brazing, intoan aperture formed in the disc 41 to permit evacuation and gaseousfilling of the plasma tube during or after baking. The periphery of theadjustment plate 48 has an opening 48d for admitting passage of tubing43 which extends therethrough outwardly from disc 41.

After disc 41, tubing 43, and plate 48 are pre-assembled, the tubefacing side of rim 42 as well as mirror receiving recess 48c in plate 48are preglazed with solder glass or frit.

Referring now to FIG. 2, together with FIG. 1, there is shown theassembled plasma tube constructed as a vertical column in the assemblyjig and in compression under two weight members 51 and 52, respectivelyto be placed on top thereof. Weight member 51 includes three identical,equidistantly spaced projections 53, mounted by machine screws 54 on anannular flange 55, normal thereto, and in a generally radial direction.The projections 53 have an L-shaped cross-section, both in thetransverse and in the longitudinal direction.

The flange 55 includes an internal recess shaped to fit over and abutagainst the upwardly tapered end 31 of the glass envelope 26 asillustrated. When the weight member 51 is placed in position over therespective end of the envelope 26, the forward portions of theprojections 53, converging toward the center, are in tangential contactwith the wider portions of the spindle 38 to maintain the same in goodvertical alignment and centered, since it rests on shoulder surface 37.

Weighting member 52 consists of a disc 56 which includes centralaperture configuration 57 similar to that of spider 14 at the lower partof the jig and from which three identical cylindrical weights 58 aresuspended by screws 59. The aperture 57 in disc 56 includes centeringmeans for lateral positioning of mirror 17 and weights 58 are providedwith relieved portions 60 adapted to align laterally with member 51.

The method of assembling the tube in the assembly jig, as shown in FIGS.1 and 2, is preceded by a number of steps in which individual tubecomponents are preformed, joined by brazing into subassemblies, andcoated with preglazing material on surfaces to be joined by hardsealing. More particularly, the preliminary steps include forming theglass components from glass of suitable characteristics andpredetermined coefficients of thermal expansion, stamping or otherwisepreparing the metal parts from metal having a coefficient of expansioncompatible with that of the selected glass, and coating the mirrorsubstrates, also selected from the point of view of compatible thermalexpansion coefficients, with multilayers of the appropriate material. Inpractice, reflective coating formed of TiO₂ and SiO₂ layers used onmirror substrates of BK-1 have been found suitable for the hard-sealtechniques disclosed herein.

Coatings of preglaze material, selected from frits or solder-sealingglass having a thermal expansion coefficient matching those of the glassand metal parts to be sealed, are applied to the annular recessesprovided respectively at the outer surface of the adjustment plate 48and of the hub 39 which form seats for the mirrors 16 and 17; at theshoulder 37 of the glass envelope and at the portion of the bulb 36which fits against the shoulder, and to the outer portion of thehemispherical surface on top of bulb 36, as well as to the internalsurface of the anode collar 29 receiving the respective surface of thebulb 36 therein.

The cathode end assembly, including parts 41, 43, and 48, together withthe glass envelope 26 are put on top of the spider 14 and centeredthereon, and mirror 16 is positioned within the recess formed by thecentral aperture of the adjustment plate 48 where it is held in positionby the upward pressure excited by lever 23.

The capillary 28 is then introduced into the glass envelope 26 throughits end 31 and stabilized therein by positioning its cantilevered end inthe central opening of the support member 33. The anode assembly,comprising the anode collar 29, the spindle 38 and the hub 39, is placedon top of the capillary bulb 36 where it is centered on and supported byshoulder 37 of the glass envelope 26. The mirror 17 is placed on hub 39and weight members 51 and 52 are put in place over the anode assemblyand on mirror 17, as shown.

The combined effects of gravity and of the members 51 and 52 provide adownward acting force on the vertical column formed by theself-centering and self-supporting plasma tube components, all of whichis supported at the lower end by spider 14 and held in verticalalignment by the adjusting screws 19a, 19b, 19c of the jig. Maintainedin this position, the jigged assembly is baked for a period of 45minutes, to a temperature which is gradually increased from ambient to480° C. and then reduced, over a period of two hours, to ambient. In thecourse of this period, the solder-sealing glass frit applied to therespective surfaces is liquified and hardened into hermetic vacuum sealsbetween mirrors, the anode and cathode assemblies, and the tubeenvelope, thereby yielding a hard-sealed laser plasma tube. The endmirrors or optical elements are chosen with consideration towardobtaining materials which are not only thermally compatible with theadjoining metal parts to which they are attached, but also with respectto the compatibility of substrate and coating materials to withstand thebaking temperatures involved. The following materials are relativelywell-matched for this purpose and are believed to be satisfactory. As iscommon, the first element given is that of the first layer of coating,alternate layers usually consisting of the same or similar material andsilicon dioxide:

1. Coating: Aluminum Oxide (Al₂ O₃)

Substrate: BK-1 or BALF-1 (Barium Light Flint)

2. Coating: Magnexium Oxide (MgO)

Substrate: TiF₃ (Titanium flint glass) or FK-6 (flint glass)

3. Coating: Titania (TiO₂)

Substrate: BK-1

4.Coating: Thoria (ThO₂)

Substrate: BALF-51

5. Coating: Zirconia (ZrO₂)

Substrate: BK-3; TK-3; PK-1; BK-10; SK-5

6. Coating: Hafnia (HfO₂)

Substrate: BAK-50; 7052 Optical; ZKN-7

In the foregoing listings, the substrate materials are given by theirShott numbers (Shott Glassworks of Mainz, Germany). As will be apparentfrom consideration of the materials involved, a certain amount of leawayin thermal coefficient of expansion will be permitted since themetal-to-glass substrate contact can be chosen independently of themetal-to-tube seal, the latter being highly restricted but the formerbeing more liberal because of the interposed metal-to-metal seal betweenthe metal parts themselves.

After cooling, the tube is evacuated, filled with the appropriate gas atthe required pressure, and adjusted for accurate alignment of themirrors.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, adjustment of the anode end assembly 29, 38,and 39 of the finished hard-sealed, gas-filled plasma tube is achievedby placing the same into a specially designed bending tool 62 which isformed by a pair of interlocking handles 63. Thus, the anode assembly isplaced in a yoke in each half of the handle portions of the tube andclamped therein by close fitting caps 64. The yoke-cap system is a snugfit into the cylindrical portions of the bendable tube 38 at each endthereof, which fit prevents co-arctation of the tube when it is bent.Positioned midway between the two yokes and fitting into the middle ofthe central radially reduced portion 38a of the bendable tube is ananvil having a cross-section transversely of less than that found in thefully bent tube and in longitudinal section is yoke-shaped with a radiustwice that of the reduced portion of the bendable tube. This anvilserves to focus the break of the bendable tube when the yokes aremis-aligned during adjustment. This mis-alignment is accomplished byforcing the handles of the bending tool closer together, which in turncauses the yokes to move around the fulcrum pins 66 provided inoverlapping portions of the handles. Exact control of the amount offorce applied to the handles is accomplished through a screw action,i.e. screw 68, which spans the extremes of the handles and is screwedinto a hemispherical nut 69 loosely indexed on one handle. Thus, as thescrew 68 is tightened, it forces the tube to break over the anvil.Through the expediency of rotating the tube relative to the actualcenter line of the bending tool, the proper correction and precisealignment of the anode structure is achieved.

The alignment of the resultant laser plasma tube constructed inaccordance with the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 9. Asshown, the tube is supported by suitable means (not shown) in a positionto receive the output beam of an argon or other laser 75, the outputfrequency (i.e., 0.448μ) of which is selected to be sufficientlydifferent from the frequency (i.e., HeNe at 0.632μ) of desired operationof the plasma tube that significant through-transmission of the beam 76can take place. A mask 77, having a small aperture 77a therein, isdisposed between the alignment laser 75 and the beam 76 into the plasmatube. A mask 79 is arranged opposite the other end of the plasma tube.The laser plasma tube is connected to a suitable power supply 82 sothat, upon approximate alignment, the tube will lase. The laser plasmatube is then positioned and its bore aligned to beam 76. This isaccomplished by noting approximate alignment of the input end which canbe seen by movement of that end of the tube and noting a minimum intransverse scattering visible through the tube wall. The other end ofthe tube is moved to minimize light scattering as noted on mask 79.Mirror 17 is brought into alignment by positioning its beam reflectiononto the aperture 77a in mask 77. The tube is turned around so thatmirror 16 faces the mask 77. The laser is positioned once again so thatthe alignment beam 76 presents a spot on mask 79 with a minimum amountof scattered light. The adjustments on mirror 16 are then operated toonce again reflect beam 76 back through the aperture 77a. At this pointthe plasma tube will lase. After the foregoing, fine tuning of the tubeis accomplished using a power meter independently of the apparatus ofFIG. 9, and by small adjustment of the adjustable mount for mirror 16.

It will be noted that in making inelastic deformation of the anodemirror support assembly, such inelastic deformation will always beaccompanied by a final elastic partial return so that precise alignmentof that member itself would require that the member be deformed byondtrue alignment and then allowed to elastically return to a position ofalignment. Since this is difficult, final adjustment of the tube isaccomplished by elastic deformation of the cathode disc 41, as will bedescribed.

As explained, requirements for a fine alignment are met by realigningthe mirror 16 and adjustment plate 48 with respect to the tube envelope26 and against the return force of elastically deformable diaphragm 41.It will be noted that the rigid adjusting plate 48 and adjusting screwscreate a force bearing upon the rim of the cathode disc 41 in the regionwhere the rim is rigidified and supported by the end of the tubeenvelope 26. In view of the rigid shoulder 48b which separates theadjustment plate a slight distance from the cathode diaphragm disc, itis seen that this force deforms the diaphragm disc slightly in itscenter due to its being of sufficiently less thickness and rigidity thanthe adjustment plate. In this way the axial presentation of the mirrorsurface of element 16 can be shifted into precise alignment with thebore of the capillary so as to maximize output from the tube. Thetriangular shape of the adjustment plate obviously permits the foregoingadjustments to be made in any axis and it is a matter of ratherstraight-forward trial and error to find which of screws 50 willmaximize the output power. After this has been found, the screws can becemented in place and the tube is ready for use.

Thus, there has been provided a method and apparatus for producing laserplasma tubes in quantities in which the laser tube can be pre-assembledin its entirety and baked in a single or multiple step operation whichserves to fuse all the parts of the laser plasma tube together. For,while the present invention permits single firing or single step bakingof a laser tube, there may be commercial or economic reasons fordividing the operations into a multiple step process. After initialfiring of the assembled laser tube, simultaneous vacuum bake-out can beobtained by lowering the temperature to a holding level whereat the tubeis vacuum tight and a vacuum drawn upon the same for the required periodof time. While maintaining this vacuum, the temperature can then beslowly lowered to ambient and the tube filled to the appropriatepressure of the gaseous substance which will provide the plasmadischarge for the tube. It is evident that the present invention isdirectly applicable to the batch processing of large quantities of lasertubes up to the limit of the size of oven available.

To those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, manymodifications and adaptations thereof will occur. For example, it isevident that the present invention supplies a method and a generalsystem for the production of plasma laser tubes which is immediatelyapplicable to the production of a plurality of such tubes simultaneouslyeither by batch process or by continuous baking processes. Accordingly,whenever, in the following claims, the recitation is made of theproduction of or apparatus for or the product resulting from themanufacture of a single tube, it should be understood that the same isintended to cover the production of a plurality of tubes as well.

In addition, while one specific structure is given as an example ofinelastic and elastic deformations of the components at the end of thelaser tube, it should be understood that other structures which areequivalent may be included within the scope of those claims not limitedto the specific structures disclosed.

We claim:
 1. In a method for the production of laser tubes comprising an assembly of components including an elongated glass plasma envelope, a cathode assembly, a capillary structure, optical end elements, metal cathode and anode end assemblies for receiving said optical elements and adapted to be joined to said elongated glass plasma envelope, at least one of said metal cathode and anode end assemblies being deformable for aligning said optical elements to define a laser optical cavity and bonding material interposed between said components for bonding said components to one another to seal the laser tube, the steps of coating the abutting surfaces of said components with said bonding material, placing said cathode assembly in said elongated glass plasma envelope, supporting said metal cathode end assembly, seating one end of said elongated glass plasma envelope on one side of said metal cathode end assembly to be supported thereby, placing one of said optical elements against the other side of said metal cathode end assembly, introducing said capillary structure in said elongated glass plasma envelope to be supported within said envelope by the other end of said envelope, seating the metal anode end assembly on said capillary structure, placing the other optical element on said metal anode end assembly, applying an axial force to said assembled components to force them together, heating the assembled parts to cause the bonding material to bond the adjacent surfaces to one another to form the sealed laser envelope, cooling the assembled laser envelope and aligning the optical elements by deforming at least one of said metal end elements.
 2. A method as in claim 1 wherein said axial force applied to said assembled components includes a force independently applied to the optical end element associated with the metal cathode end assembly.
 3. A method as in claim 1 in which said components include a capillary defining bore through said laser tube and further including the steps of establishing a discharge radiation field within said tube, and adjusting at least one of said deformable means to bring said associated optical elements into an aligned relationship with said bore.
 4. A method as in claim 1 in which said laser tube assembly is provided with vacuum evacuating means prior to being heated and further including the step of drawing a vacuum upon said tube during a portion of its cooling cycle to thereby simultaneously heat the laser tube and evacuate the same.
 5. A method as in claim 4 further including the step of filling said tube to the appropriate pressure with a plasma forming substance subsequent to evacuation thereof and during said cooling cycle.
 6. A method as in claim 5 in which said components include a capillary defining a bore through said tube and in which said optical end elements are mirrors, and further including the steps of establishing a radiation field within said tube, after evacuation, filling, and cooling, by passing a beam through said capillary and in alignment therewith, adjusting one of said end mirrors into alignment with said beam, creating a plasma discharge with the plasma in said tube to create an internal radiation field, adjusting the other end mirror into alignment with said internal radiation field.
 7. A method as in claim 1 in which said components include a capillary defining a plasma discharge bore through said tube, a second member for adjusting the other end element of said tube when completed, the first of said members being inelastically deformable, the second member being elastically deformable, and further including the steps of creating a radiation field with said tube and through said bore, adjusting said first member to align the associated end element with the radiation field and said bore, then adjusting the second member to align its associated element with said radiation field.
 8. A method for constructing a bakable laser tube from a plurality of components including a cylindrical glass envelope coaxially housing a cylindrical metal cathode, a cathode end assembly having conductive components electrically connected to said cathode, said cathode assembly being fusable to said glass envelope in sealing engagement therewith, a metal anode end assembly having conductive components, said cathode and anode end assemblies including optical elements for closing the ends thereof, a glass capillary having a bore therethrough, and optical element seats formed at the end of said cathode end assembly and the end of said anode end assembly, respectively, comprising the steps of depositing a coating of pre-glaze material on predetermined surfaces of each of said components, placing said cathode end assembly into said glass envelope together with said cathode optical element, aligning said glass envelope and cathode assembly in a vertical direction by application of lateral adjustment means disposed in a jig, inserting said capillary into said glass envelope through the open end thereof, placing said anode end assembly over said capillary and envelope at its end remote from said cathode support and in coaxial alignment therewith, compressing said vertically mounted assembly of components, and baking the same to form a unitary laser plasma tube in which all parts are hard-sealed together and thereafter cooling said hard-sealed tube to ambient temperature.
 9. A method as in claim 8 wherein said baking consists of gradually raising the temperature over a period of 45 minutes from ambient to 480° C. and said cooling consists in reducing said temperature from 480° C. to ambient over a period of two hours.
 10. The method as in claim 8 further including providing a filling tube to an aperture formed in a portion of said cathode end assembly and the step of evacuating and filling said tube during the baking cycle.
 11. The method as in claim 10 wherein said cooling consists in reducing said temperature from 480° C. to a temperature in the range of 325°-400° C. and wherein said evacuation proceeds while said assembly is held in said temperature range. 